CHAP. V.] FINE WEATHER. &51 



having incautiously, whilst crossing a narrow 

 opening, stepped on some slabs of snow, which 

 broke under him : he fell into the water, and 

 in a few moments would have been gone for 

 ever, had not Mr. Vaughan, the boatswain, seen 

 him, and run immediately to his succour. Before 

 noon the ship was free from pressure, but the ice 

 checked by the tide, drove her back again 

 towards the N. W. We were evidently farther 

 off shore than before, though still nearing two 

 remarkable round hills, having each a small dome- 

 shaped mound rising from the termination of 

 the slope, and forming the summit. To the 

 north and west, and seemingly connected with 

 them, was the blue bluff, now on our starboard 

 bow ; farther south was another point, the ex- 

 tremes of which and the land astern were S. E. 

 and N. W. by W. The weather was fine and 

 calm, and some icicles formed on the ship's side. 

 At l h 20 ra p. m., a mercurial thermometer, hung 

 against the sunny side of the ship, rose to 11° 5 + ; 

 the spirit one on board in the sun being 15° — , 

 and the one in the shade 21° — . In the latter 

 part of the day the ice set slowly to the N. W., 

 but about 8 h p. m. stopped, and closed a little on 

 the starboard side of the ship. 



This was the lowest neap tide ; and as the weather 

 was calm, we looked forward to the comfort of a 

 quiet night. In this however we were disappointed. 



